Bashar Assad should face a criminal trial, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said, while keeping open the possibility the Syrian president could temporarily remain in power to oversee a transition to a more inclusive government.
Cameron made the comments on Sunday as he flew to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where he'll meet with other leaders to discuss possible solutions to the 4 1/2-year conflict that has seen Islamic State take control of parts of the Middle Eastern country and led to an exodus of millions of refugees.
"People who break international law should be subject to international law," the prime minister told reporters traveling with him. "He's butchered his own people, he's helped create this conflict and this migration crisis, he's one of the great recruiting sergeants for ISIL," Cameron said, using another term for Islamic State. "He can't be a part of Syria's long-term future."